Identification structure

ABSTRACT

An identifying system for objects made from metal utilizing indicia selected from material having a substantially different radiation absorption coefficient and melting temperatures higher than the melting point of the object to permit identification by radiographic techniques.

Miin mien mi Momiemsinn 1 Feb. 22, 11972 [54] HIDENTIIFIICATHUNSTRUCTURE 1,561,427 11/1925 Forsberg ..40/2.2 X Inventor: Lawrence D.Mordamsim 918 Harcourt 2,800,731 7/1957 Carson ..40/2 H Road, GrossePointe Park, Mich. 48230 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLKCATIONS 1 Filed: J y 16 62,236 5/1944 Denmark ..250/67 [21] Appl 751L678 PrimaryExaminer-Jerome Schnall m S A f D Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J.Contreras 8mm U Wham mm mm Att0rney-Anthony J. Castorina I63]Continuation of Scr. No. 517,695, Dec. 30, 1965,

abandoned.

, An identifying system for objects made from metal utilizing in- [52]US. (31 "Mi/2.2, 283/7 dicia Selected from material having asubstantially dmerem [51] 111M. (:1. ..GD91f3/02 radiation absorptionCoefficient and melting temperatures [58] li ieidl of Search ..250/59,67; 283/7; 40/22 higher than the melting point f the object to permit idification by radiographic techniques. [56] References Cited 4 Claims, 7Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,275,669 8/1918 Forbes ..250/67UK of the object being so IDENTIFICATION STRUCTURE This is acontinuation of my application Ser. No. 517,695 filed Dec. 30, 1965 andwhich is now abandoned.

The present invention relates to identification constructions foridentifying selected objects.

In the identification of automobile engines and other parts,identification numbers are cast in the engine block or otherwise mountedon the surface. These identification numbers are readily locatable andcan be easily changed or removed thereby destroying the means foridentifying that particular object. This is especially significant whenconsidering the ease with which such identification numbers, etc., canbe changed upon stolen automobiles, etc. It is desirable that anidentifica' tion construction be provided which is of a nature wherebyit cannot be destroyed or altered. The need for such an identificationconstruction is also present with firearms. Again, it would be highlydesirable that an identification construction be provided which cannotbe altered or destroyed. In the present invention an identificationconstruction is shown which cannot be altered and in fact does notpermit detection by normal, visual means where it could be located andaltered or destroyed. Also, it is of such a nature that to destroy theidentification would require the destruction of an integral partidentified. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a novel identification construction for selected objects.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelidentification construction for identifying selected objects whichconstruction cannot readily be altered or destroyed.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anidentification construction which cannot be located by simple visualobservation and is completely embedded in the object being identifiedwhereby it cannot be readily altered or destroyed.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view ofan identification construction embodyingthe features of the present invention with the object to be identifiedshown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the identification construction of FIG. Itaken substantially along the line 2-2 in FIG. I with the object to beidentified shown in solid lines;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 of a modificationof the identification construction of FIG. I; FIG. 4 is a perspectiveview ofa still different identification construction;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the identification construction of FIG. 4,taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 depicting a still differentembodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view depicting another form of the invention.

In the past, identification tags have been constructed to be mounted orsupported on the member or object to be identified and are visuallyobserved. Likewise identifying symbols or numbers which are cast in thesurface can be visually observed. In the present invention theidentification construction is such that the identifying tag iscompletely embedded such that it cannot be observed visually. With thisconstruction the serial number or other identifying symbols can bedetected only by radiographic technique utilizing X-ray, gamma rays orother type radiation devices which are capable of penetrating throughthe material of the object to be identified. In the case ofa cast ironengine block, it is contemplated that the identifying tag be made oftungsten or some other material having a higher melting point than thatof the cast iron. For objects made of materials other than cast iron,materials other than tungsten for the identification tag could beutilized provided that the material of the tag will not melt at themelting temperature of the material of the object being identified. Inaddition since the identification symbol is to be ascertained byradiographic techniques, it is important that the material of theidentification tag have a substantially different absorption coefficientin order that detection may be accomplished by X- ray or other radiationtechniques; for purposes of simplicity this characteristic will bereferred to as radiation absorption coefficient.

Looking now to FIG. 1, an identifying tag is generally indicated by thenumeral I0 and is shown to be completely embedded in an object generallyindicated by the numeral 12. The tag I0 is made of a solid block ofmaterial with numbers designated by the numerals I4, I6 and 18, beingcut therethrough. In the embodiment of FIG. I, the numerals I4, I6 andI8 are out completely through the thickness of the material of the tag10 such that upon pouring of the material of the object 112, thatmaterial will pass through the openings caused by the cutout portions ofnumerals 14, 16 and I8 (see FIG. 2). Thus upon identificationradiographic equipment will detect the difference in the radiationabsorption coefficient of the material which is then located in thevoids of the numerals I4, I6 and 18 as compared to the material of theremaining surrounding portion of the tag I0 whereby a radiograph or filmcan be provided which will clearly provide the image of numerals I4, I6and I8 and hence give: a means of identifying the serial number of thetag It).

In FIG. 3 a different embodiment is shown in which an identification tag20 is provided for use with an object 22 to be identified. In this casethe numbers indicated by numerals 24, 26 and 28 are indented within thebody of the tag 20 thereby providing for a substantially lesserthickness of the material outline the numerals 24, 26 and 28. Uponcasting the body 22, the material therein will generally flow to fillthe voids or recesses of the numerals 24, 26 and 28 and because of thedisparity in thickness between the numerals and the remaining portionsof the tag 20, the numerals 24, 26 and 28 can be discerned byradiographic techniques.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment which is generally opposite to thatshown in FIG. 3, rather than having the numerals depressed, a tag 32 isshown having numbers indicated by nu merals 34, 36 and 38 which areembossed or substantially raised from the surrounding surface of the tag32 and hence upon being cast and completely surrounded by the materialof a part 42 to be identified, the raised or embossed numerals 34, 36and 38 will provide areas of substantially greater thickness and willagain provide means whereby an image of the numerals 34, 36 and 38 canbe obtained by radiographic techniques. In some applications, it wouldbe desirable if only the numbers and substantially no other structurewere provided in the body of the object to be identified. Such aconstruction is shown in FIG. 6 and includes. an identification tag 40composed of numbers indicated by numerals 44, 46 and 48 which are heldby a body member 47. The body member 47 is made of a material which isvaporizable at the melting temperature of material in which the tag 40'is to be embedded. Thus, as the material of the object to be embedded ispoured about the tag 40, the body 47 will vaporize and leave behind thenumerals 44, 46 and 48 such that only the numerals 44, 46 and 48 willremain in the object to be identified. Note that the numerals 44, 46 and48 are held together only by the body member 47 after body member 47 hasvaporized the numerals 44, 46 and 48 are separated from each other.

FIG. 7 shows a still different form of identification tag beingdesignated by the numeral 50 and includes a plurality of formed numbersindicated by the numeral 54, 56 and 58, which are held together by aholding bar 57, which is made of the same material as the numerals 54,56 and 58. Again, by molding the material ofan object to be identifiedabout the tag 50, positive identification can be obtained because of thedifferences in radiation absorption coefficient, etc., of materials byradiographic techniques. Note that as a further modification the tag 50could be initially held within a vaporizable body such as 47.

It can be readily seen that by employment of the various identificationstructures as shown and by completely embedding the identification tagswithin the material of the object to be identified, the identificationnumbers or designations are permanently secured to the object to beidentified and cannot be altered or destroyed. Also, the location of theidentification tags is not readily apparent and hence lends itself tothe-concealment from individuals who would change such identifications.With this type of identification construcmaterial of the object to bemade of a first material having a higher melting point than theidentified with'said first material having a substantially differentradiation absorption coefficient, said identification means beingsurrounded by the material of the object to be identified with saidsymbols being defined by said first material and the material of theobject tion, more than one could be located in the object to be sovidentified, and hence provide even further protection from discovery andhence destruction. By use of the abovedescribed identificationconstruction, identification of engine blocks, firearms, etc., wouldbesubstantially permanently retained. Of course, the invention isequally applicable to other objects to be thus permanently identified.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of whereby saidsymbols can be detected by radiographic techniques, and with saididentification means comprising a tag member with said symbolsconstructed of said first materithe invention disclosed are wellcalculated to fulfill the objects,

al and a body member retaining said symbols, saidbody member beingconstructed of a' second material which vaporizes at the melting pointof the material of the object whereby said body member is not present asa part of said identification means after the object is formed.

2. The structure of claim 1 with said first material being a metaland'with said material of said object being a metal cast about saididentification means.

3. The structure of claim 2 with said object to be identified being asubstantially permanent part of a vehicle whereby a substantiallypermanent identification of the vehicle is provided. P

block.

4. The structure of claim 3 with said object being the engine

1. An identification structure for an object to be identified comprisingidentification means for permitting identification comprisingidentifying symbols, said identification means made of a first materialhaving a higher melting point than the material of the object to beidentified with said first material having a substantially differentradiation absorption coefficient, said identification means beingsurrounded by the material of the object to be identified with saidsymbols being defined by said first material and the material of theobject whereby said symbols can be detected by radiographic techniques,and with said identification means comprising a tag member with saidsymbols constructed of said first material and a body member retainingsaid symbols, said body member being constructed of a second materialwhich vaporizes at the melting point of the material of the objectwhereby said body member is not present as a part of said identificationmeans after the object is formed.
 2. The structure of claim 1 with saidfirst material being a metal and with said material of said object beinga metal cast about said identification means.
 3. The structure of claim2 with said object to be identified being a substantially permanent partof a vehicle whereby a substantially permanent identification of thevehicle is provided.
 4. The structure of claim 3 with said object beingthe engine block.